Shoe with improved fit

ABSTRACT

A shoe with improved fit, of the type comprising a sole and a shell made of plastics. Below the sole there is, in the toe region, a substantially longitudinally extended slot. At the sides of the slot there is a first seat and a second seat, respectively for a pivot and a cam-shaped bush. The pivot and the bush are associated at their ends with a plate arranged inside the sole.

The present application relates to a shoe with improved fit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, shoes, particularly sports shoes, are known which are constituted by a sole and a shell which are made of plastics and are substantially rigid so as to allow the optimum transmission of the efforts of the foot to the sports implement, such as a ski or a supporting frame for inline wheels or paired wheels or an ice-skating blade.

The rigidity of plastics that constitutes the shoe limits the comfort of the foot when the shoe is being worn, both because the foot of the various users does not have a structural identity that corresponds to the one used to define the size during the production of the molds and because the foot, especially in young users, can undergo swift but limited changes in dimensions which lead to the localization of pressure regions, with consequent substantial discomfort during use.

As a partial solution to this drawback, EP1683434 is known which discloses a shoe that has an upper and a sole, the sole comprising at least one resilient component, which has

a peripheral profile, with a medial part and a lateral part, such parts forming therebetween a width dimension,

a discontinuity of material adapted to allow a variation of such width dimension, and thus a variation of the shape of the peripheral profile,

where the resilient component is associated with an adjustment system, that can be operated in order to select a desired level of adjustment of such width dimension, particularly in order to adapt the shape of such peripheral profile to a foot of a user of the shoe, characterized in that the sole comprises inspection means adapted to allow the visual control, in a region of such resilient component that is intermediate with respect to the medial portion and lateral portion, of the level of adjustment selected by means of the adjustment system.

This known solution has several drawbacks: the adjustment system is in fact composed of a screw, which is arranged transversely to the sole and whose head presses at an adjacent plate, which forces the part of the body of the mid-sole toward the insert, so as to compress the discontinuity that thus reduces the width decrease of the mid-sole, which is thus modified in the shape of its peripheral profile.

This solution, besides being complex from a structural standpoint, has rigid elements arranged transversely to the sole: these elements might thus form, because of their rigidity, localized regions of pressure for the foot.

The screw in fact must have a considerable rigidity, in order to prevent the weight of the user from deforming it and therefore making the system unusable.

A similar drawback is due to the presence of the insert, which makes the disposition of the components of the adjustment system asymmetrical, so as to be able to alter also the response of the sole to stresses.

Finally, the use of screws does not ensure that the preset position is maintained over time, because of their possible loosening, and therefore continuous adjustment by the user may be required.

Finally, the known solution requires the use of two screws, thereby implementing further the drawbacks mentioned earlier.

US2008/0000109 is also known which relates to a shoe that has a rigid shell, which has, in at least one localized region thereof, a material that includes an additive that has a melting point lower than 100° C.; these regions are localized for example laterally to the shell or in the heel region or toe region and are determined as regions in which is possible to induce a deformation due to the pressure applied by the foot of the user.

In this background art, therefore, the shell is deformed in a specific area due to overheating and to the insertion of the user's foot therein.

This solution, however, has considerable drawbacks: first of all, it is necessary to provide a shell by means of material of a different type in order to obtain the deformation at different temperatures, and moreover it is necessary, in order to obtain this deformation, to use devices and accessories for heating the boot itself, and the user has to insert his foot in a condition in which the boot has high temperatures, and finally has to wait for the boot to cool.

These operations, therefore, require structures and skills that are not available for the mere user; moreover, any accidental placement of the boot near a source of heat, such as for example a stove or a fireplace, might cause unintended deformations of the shell.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned technical problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited background art, by devising a shoe whose shape can be adapted, rapidly and simply, according to the specific shape of the foot of the user.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to achieve, in a manner that is stable over time but reversible, the modification of the shape of the shell.

Another object is to provide a shoe that combines with the preceding characteristics the characteristic of being structurally simple and of having low manufacturing costs.

This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a shoe with improved fit, comprising a sole and a shell made of plastics and a toe, characterized in that below said sole there is, in the toe region, a substantially longitudinally extended slot, which is interposed between a first seat and a second seat respectively for a pivot and a cam-shaped bush, which are associated at their ends with a fixing plate arranged inside said sole.

Advantageously, stroke limiting means for the rotation of said cam-shaped bush are provided.

Conveniently, there is an elastically deformable sheath to cover the slot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional perspective view of some components of a shoe according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cam-shaped bush;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the shoe;

FIG. 4 is a view of the shoe, similar to FIG. 3, in which the slot is shown in the condition in which the bush is deactivated;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectional view of the shoe, taken from the opposite side with respect to the sole;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a view, similar to FIG. 4, of the shoe in the condition of maximum compression for the slot;

FIG. 8 is a view, similar to FIG. 5, of the shoe in the condition shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view, taken along the line IX-IX of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a view, similar to FIG. 4, of the shoe in the condition of maximum deformation during opening of the slot;

FIG. 11 is a view, similar to FIG. 5, of the shoe in the condition shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view, taken along the line XII-XII of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.

Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 designates a shoe with improved fit, particularly a sports shoe such as a ski boot or a skate with inline or paired wheels or an ice skate.

The shoe 1 comprises a sole 2 associated in a lower region with a shell 3, both made preferably of plastics; the sole 2 has a heel unit 4 and a toe 5 of the standardized type.

A slot 6 is provided below the sole 2 so as to affect the region of the toe 5 and the sole 2 and has a substantially longitudinal extension along the central axis 7 with respect to the sole 2.

The slot 6 runs approximately between the front perimetric edge 8 of the toe 5 and the rear perimetric edge 9 thereof, which is adjacent to the plantar arch region 10, so as to form a first portion 11 and a second portion 12, arranged along the central axis 7, between which there is a third portion 13 which is spaced from the preceding ones in the direction of the inner side 14 of the foot of the user.

At the toe 5 there is, on the side directed toward the ground, a recess 15 within which the slot 6 is obtained, the recess 15 having a shape that is approximately complementary to the footprint of the toe 5 and being closable by means of a removable covering element 16.

The slot 6 is interposed between a first through seat 17 and a second through seat 18 respectively for a pivot 19 and a cam-shaped bush 20, which are associated at their ends with a fixing plate 21, which has a preferably rectangular shape and is arranged internally and transversely with respect to the sole 2 within an adapted third seat 22, which has slightly larger dimensions.

The pivot 19 is T-shaped, so as to form a first head 23 which lies within the recess 15 and a first stem 24, which passes through the first seat 17 and whose end is associated rotatably within a first hole 25 provided proximate to a first longitudinal end of the plate 21.

The bush 20 is also T-shaped so as to form a second, or bush head 26 which lies within the recess 15 and a second, or bush stem 27, which passes within the second seat 18 and from which a third, axially offset end stem 28 rises, whose end is rotatably associated within a second hole 29 obtained proximate to a second longitudinal end of the plate 21.

A tab 30 protrudes radially to the second head 26 on the axial offset side of the third stem 28.

A fourth, or head seat 31, for interconnection to a complementarily shaped hex key is provided axially to the second, bush head 26.

Stroke limiting means are provided for the clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the cam-shaped bush 20, such means comprising a limiting plate 32, which is arranged within the recess 15 adjacent to the second seat 18 and has such a thickness as to form a lateral surface 33 which is shaped complementarily to the lateral edge of the second head 26; the lateral surface 33 has an angular extension that is equal to a circular arc of approximately ninety degrees.

As an alternative, the plate 32 is provided directly as an element that protrudes from the recess 15.

The lateral surface 33 of the plate 32 is arranged, in the condition in which the slot 6 is not subject to forces, shown in FIG. 4, approximately on the opposite side with respect to the tab 30.

At the ends of the lateral surface 33 there is a first tooth 34 and a second tooth 35, against which the sides 36 a, 36 b of the tab 30 abut selectively.

Conveniently, there is an elastically deformable sheath 37 to cover the slot 6.

The fourth seat 31 can be accessed from the outside of the sole 2 at an opening 38, being obtained on the covering element 16, which is preferably slot-shaped with an axis that is transverse to the sole 2.

Finally, there are means for temporarily locking the position of the bush 20 with respect to the plate 21, such means being constituted by a stud 39, which protrudes from the second stem 27 in the same direction as the third stem 28 and in a position that is approximately diametrical thereto.

The stud 39 interacts selectively with one among three fifth, or fixing seats or through holes 40 a, 40 b, 40 c which are provided in the fixing plate 21, lie on a circle which is concentrical with respect to the bush 20 and are arranged approximately at 120 degrees with respect to each other so as to be affected selectively by the stud 39 in the conditions shown in FIGS. 7, 4 and 10 respectively.

Advantageously, in the conditions shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the bush 20 is in an undercut condition with respect to the longitudinal axis 41 that passes between the first hole 25 and the second hole 29.

The use of the invention is as follows.

Starting from the condition shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, one has the condition in which the slot 6 has the first portion 11, the second portion 12 and the third portion 13 substantially non-deformed; such condition is thus dimensionally stable for the shoe 1.

In this condition, the bush 20 has the tab 30 directed approximately toward the opposite side with respect to the lateral surface 33 of the plate 32, the plate 21 being slightly inclined toward the heel unit 4 at the end provided with the bush 20.

If the user turns the bush 20 clockwise so as to make the tab 30 abut against the side 36 a on the first tooth 34, the axial offset between the second stem 27 and the third stem 28 imparts a slight clockwise rotation to the plate 21 and a consequent thrust is generated which reduces the clearance of the third portion 13 of the slot 6 in the direction of the inner side 14 of the foot of the user, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9.

Activation of the bush 20 occurs by way of the accessibility of the fourth seat 31 by means of the opening 38 provided on the covering element 16 of the toe 5.

In this manner, a slight dimensional contraction of the shoe is obtained.

By instead turning the bush 20 counterclockwise so as to make the tab 30 arrange the side 36 b at the second tooth 35 of the plate 32, an increase in the clearance of the third portion 13 of the slot 6 is forced, as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12.

In this manner, the dimensional shape of the shoe 1 is further modified in a transverse direction.

In practice it has been found that the invention has achieved the aim and objects cited above, since a shoe has been obtained whose shape can be modified rapidly and easily by actuating the cam-shaped bush as a function of the specific shape of the foot of the user.

The shape of the shoe can thus be modified in the toe region until it reaches conditions that are at the same time stable over time and modifiable according to different and changed requirements of the user.

Finally, the shoe is unchanged as a whole in its outward shape and is at the same time structurally simple with low manufacturing costs.

The materials used, as well as the dimensions of the individual components of the invention, may of course be more pertinent according to specific requirements.

The various means for performing certain different functions need not certainly coexist only in the illustrated embodiment but can be present per se in many embodiments, including ones that are not illustrated.

The characteristics indicated as advantageous, convenient or the like may also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. TV2009A000235 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference. 

1. A shoe with improved fit, comprising: a plastic sole; a plastic shell; a toe; a slot that is provided below said sole, in a region of the toe, said slot having a substantially longitudinal extension with respect to the sole; a first seat and a second seat provided in said sole, said slot being interposed therebetween; a pivot arrangeable in said first seat; a cam-shaped bush arrangeable in said second seat; and a fixing plate arranged inside said sole, said pivot and cam shaped bush being associated at their ends, when inserted in said first and second seats, with said fixing plate.
 2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein said slot is provided in said sole, in a downward region thereof, so as to extend over the region of said toe and said sole, and has a substantially longitudinal extension along a central axis of the sole with respect thereto, said slot being arranged approximately between a front perimetric edge of said toe and a rear perimetric edge thereof, said rear perimetric edge being adjacent to a plantar arch region of the sole, so as to form a first portion and a second portion, arranged along said central axis, and a third portion arranged between said first and second portions so as to be spaced therefrom first and second portions in a direction of an inner side of the shoe corresponding with an innersole of a foot of a user.
 3. The shoe of claim 1, comprising a recess located at said toe on a side thereof directed toward ground, said slot being provided in said recess, and said recess having a shape which is approximately complementary to a footprint of said toe, and being provided with a removable covering element.
 4. The shoe of claim 3, wherein said first seat and said second seat are through seats, and said plate has a rectangular shape and is arranged internally and transversely with respect to said sole within a suitably shaped third seat of the sole, which has slightly larger dimensions than the plate.
 5. The shoe of claim 4, wherein said pivot is T-shaped, so as to comprise a first head which lies within said recess and a first stem, which passes through said first seat an end of said first stem being associated rotatably within a first hole provided proximate to a first longitudinal end of said plate.
 6. The shoe of claim 5, wherein said bush is T-shaped, and comprises a bush head which lies within said recess and a bush stem, which passes within said second seat and from which an axially offset end stem rises, a free end of said end stem being rotatably associated within a second hole provided proximate to a second longitudinal end of said plate.
 7. The shoe of claim 6, comprising a tab that protrudes radially to said bush head on an axial offset side of said end stem.
 8. The shoe of claim 7, comprising a head seat, for interconnection to a complementarily shaped hex key, that is provided axially to said second head.
 9. The shoe of claim 7, comprising stroke limiting means for limiting clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of said cam-shaped bush, said limiting means comprising a limiting plate provided at said recess, adjacent to said second seat, and having such a thickness as to form a lateral surface which is shaped complementarily to a lateral edge of the bush head, said lateral surface having an angular extension that is equal to a circular arc of approximately 90°.
 10. The shoe of claim 9, wherein said lateral surface of said limiting plate is arranged, in a condition in which said slot is not subject to forces, approximately on an opposite side with respect to said tab.
 11. The shoe of claim 10, comprising, located at respective ends of said lateral surface a first tooth and a second tooth, against which sides of said tab abut selectively.
 12. The shoe of claim 1, comprising an elastically deformable sheath suitable to cover said slot.
 13. The shoe of claim 8, wherein said head seat is shaped so as to be accessible from outside said sole, an opening being provided on said covering element, which is slot-shaped with an axis which is transverse to said sole.
 14. The shoe of claim 7, comprising locking means for temporarily locking a position of said bush with respect to said plate, said locking means being constituted by a stud which protrudes from said bush stem in a same direction as said end stem and in a position that is approximately diametrical thereto, said stud interacting selectively with one among three fixing seats or through holes which are provided on said fixing plate, lie on a circle which is concentrical with respect to said bush and are arranged approximately at 120° with respect to each other so as to interact selectively with said stud.
 15. The shoe of claim 6, wherein in conditions of maximum compression and maximum deformation for opening for said slot, said bush is in an undercut condition with respect to a longitudinal axis that passes between said first and second holes. 